The thought of mixing the staple varieties of the Left
Bank of Bordeaux and that of the northern Rhone has seemed unholy for many wine lovers over the
years, but the Australians discovered long ago that it is a style that works
superbly. In the sun-drenched vineyards
of the Barossa Valley,
winegrowers found that while Cabernet Sauvignon possessed power, line and
length, Shiraz
completed the picture by adding flesh, fruitiness and richness, filling in the
‘doughnut’. Proud of its Barossa
heritage, Yalumba has always championed the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with Shiraz. Their ‘flagship’ wine for nearly half a
century, ‘The Signature’ showcases the Cabernet/Shiraz blend perfectly, and
demonstrates the quality and longevity possible with the blend. And the new ‘junior’ version, ‘The Scribbler’
offers the same style, but in a much more accessible fashion. We offer these two Cabernet/Shiraz blends,
demonstrating Yalumba’s mastery of the style:
Yalumba ‘The
Scribbler’ Cabernet/Shiraz 2008
First vintaged in 2006, ‘The Scribbler’ is Yalumba’s
offering of the classic Cabernet and Shiraz blend in an approachable format,
while keeping true to the style as set by the flagship wine ‘The
Signature’. The 2008 vintage has turned
out to be another cracker, the growing conditions producing very healthy
fruit. Yalumba’s grapes were picked
before the advent of a heat wave on 10 March. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Shiraz, fermented to 14.0% alc, the wine was aged 12 months in 18% new oak
barrels, of which 59% were American, 35% French and 6% Hungarian. Dense purple-red in colour, the elegant
bouquet is redolent of fully-ripened dark fruits lifted by pepper and
violetty-floral notes giving a fresh vibrancy.
Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegant in expression with beautiful
black and blue berry fruit flavours again given an aromatic edge by floral
nuances. This is the Shiraz.
The fruit sweetness is to the fore, but underscored by supple tannins
and a moderate extraction, from the Cabernet Sauvignon. There is a warmth and generosity to the core,
and much more is built into this beauty that meets the eye. Drink this with good red meat dishes over the
next 5-7 years.
Yalumba ‘The
Signature’ Cabernet/Shiraz 2005
Although Yalumba has ‘The Octavius’ Old Vine Barossa
Shiraz and ‘The Reserve’ Cabernet and Shiraz blend (a sort of
super-‘Signature’) priced higher, ‘The Signature’ is seen as the company’s
‘best’ wine. It is dedicated to the
style of the blend that has been a Barossa benchmark since 1962, and its
consistency and pricing reflects how Yalumba’s owner Robert Hill-Smith is in
touch with and serves the people who drink his wines. The label bears the signatures of people who
have made significant contributions to Yalumba, and in 2005, it acknowledges
Queensland General Manager Jeff Smith and General Sales Manager Greg
Pullen.
Made from hand-picked fruit, 54% Cabernet Sauvignon and 46% Shiraz, this was fermented to
14.5% alc, then aged 22 months in a sophisticated oak regime employing 31% new
oak hogsheads, the provenance being 65% American, 30% French and 15% Hungarian. Very dark, deep black-red, impenetrable at
heart, this has a solid and dense, brooding nose of inky black fruits, mint and
cassis reflecting the perfectly ripened Cabernet Sauvignon. Nuances of chocolate and pepper develop in
the glass. On palate, the wine is full
and weighty, of very serious construction with substantial, fine-grained
tannins. Then the richness of the Shiraz kicks in,
providing sweetness and lusciousness with black pepper, violets, liquorice and
chocolate, supported by spicy oak. This
will integrate and develop real complexities as ‘The Signature’ has proven to
do, this wine for at least 15-20 years.
This is benchmark Barossa and a classic.
For
the month of June 2010, Yalumba ‘The Signature’ Cabernet/Shiraz 2005 will be
reduced from $50.25 to $41.95 On Special.
This is too good to pass by!